EV mode and warrantee question

I have the Cruise Control EV mod and have taken it in for service. Never a mention. Of course they could be finding it out and not telling me that they did. Some dealerships will have techs that will be interested and some won't care.

 

While toyota's never come out and said "the EV mod doesn't effect the warrenty", the general consensus here is that it's not a problem. there has never been a post saying that a Prius tech said anything negative about the mod, if they noticed it at all.

 

Andy,
EV is standard everywhere except the US and Canada so Toyota does not have a problem with it. I had my factory switch installed at a Toyota Dealership, so at least that dealers service department does not have a problem with it either.

Don't know what you expect of the EV mod as far as saving your battery. It is a neat mod but its use is limited, I use mine mainly for stretches of city driving after coming off the freeway where it is stop and go for about 20 blocks and the speeds do not exceed 35 MPH.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(AZTriGuy @ Jul 5 2006, 11:22 AM) [snapback]281542[/snapback]</div>

Well, if Toyota really wanted to discover if your Prius had it, it would be a simple way to find out. Just put in a requirement when working on a Prius for any reason to do the following steps...

1) Is there a button marked "EV?" Yes/No
If "No," then Power-up and put display on screen other than ENERGY.
2) Pull Headlight stalk. Does the display change to ENERGY, give 3 beeps or give a message that EV Mod can't be enabled? Yes/No
3) If "No" repeat with Cruise Control stalk. Does the display change to ENERGY, give 3 beeps or give a message that EV Mod can't be enabled? Yes/No

If there is a "Yes" to any of the above, mark the "EV" box on the report. If that box is checked, put the VIN in the EV database.

That isn't happening, to my knowledge, and that assumes that Toyota wants to crack down on EV mode users, plus that Toyota has a mole here (or other Prius groups) to discover the ways the EV mode can be activated.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(AZTriGuy @ Jul 5 2006, 01:09 PM) [snapback]281527[/snapback]</div>

Andy,
As I'm sure you know this has been discussed extensively at PC. A search will uncover pages of opinion and debate. Nonetheless, I will happily chip in another $0.02 worth here.

I am one of many to proudly and confidently install and use the "EV button".
Personally, I have no concerns about warranty for two primary reasons.

1) The car is designed to operate this way. While Toyota has yet to explain why vehicles sold in NA don't have this feature, the computers will recognize the added EV button/switch and automatically implement the appropriate safeguards.

2) If Toyota were ever to void a warranty on the basis of using a properly installed EV switch, it would be a HUGE public relations disaster for Toyota worldwide as they tried to explain to hundreds of thousands of Prius owners why their own design is faulty enough to void the warranty.

IMO go for it!
I love mine.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(jmccord @ Jul 5 2006, 03:12 PM) [snapback]281567[/snapback]</div>

I believe the reason North America vehicles don't has the factory EV switch is because the battery warranty is much higher in states that have adopted the California Air Resource Board (CARB) requirements, and Toyota believes they cannot meet that warranty period with EV.

 

It's also worth noting that the EV button (when fitted) behaves differently in the USA and Europe. In Europe, EV mode gets deactivated at 45km/h (28mph). In the USA, it's deactivated at 55km/h (34mph).

I haven't the faintest idea why that is, but it's a difference that means it's not strictly true that you're just enabling the same functionality we have. You're activating slightly higher functionality.

Now, what's the cut-out speed in Japan?

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(KMO @ Jul 6 2006, 09:01 PM) [snapback]281907[/snapback]</div>

It is 55km/h in Japan.
http://priuschat.com/index.php?showtopic=14582&st=6

Ken@Japan

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(itstwowords @ Jul 6 2006, 07:51 AM) [snapback]281904[/snapback]</div>

I bet it's even simpler than that. I would bet that in the bureaucratic morass that is Washington DC and the EPA, there are one or more regulations that either directly or indirectly prohibited it or required more effort to jump the bureaucratic hurdles than Toyota thought it was worth.

 

Greetings, Fellow Prians:

I do not disagree with the logic that you have with respect to the EV switch and the warranty provided by Toyota, but it will be several years before we really know Toyota's position. Since I live in California, I am personally concerned about the warranty issue.

While I really want an EV switch, it does not seem that the risks of putting it in is worth it. I guess in a few years, we will be able to see.

On the other hand, if Toyota will put the modification in, then I would assume that the modification does not invalidate the warranty. Has anyone is Southern California gone this route?

P&G friends.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Lil Mo @ Jul 6 2006, 07:46 AM) [snapback]281916[/snapback]</div>

We may never get Toyota's position.
Just search the synthetic oil threads in PC. Dealerships are all over the place with regard to synthetic oil use and warranty. My local dealer (Toyota Carlsbad) told me that using synthetic 5W-30 motor oil would "definitely" void my vehicle warranty. :blink:
If you want to know an auto makers position on their warranty, simply go to the Federal law that covers them - The Magnuson-Moss Act. Details can be found at:
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/buspubs/warranty.htm

My interpretation is this: Unless the dealer tells you in writing that enabling this built-in feature voids the "implied" warranty, there should be no affect on warranty, in California or elsewhere, using EV mode.

Also isn't it true that Toyota designed the traction battery to last "the life of the vehicle" in all markets?

In any case, did I say I love this car?

 

jmccord:

Thanks, I will review that. It looks like the "Magnuson-Moss Act" for Dummies. Hopefully, I can follow it.

Cheers,

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(aaf709 @ Jul 5 2006, 02:18 PM) [snapback]281535[/snapback]</div>

I have a 2005 package #6. I bought the car from a deler about two months ago. How does the EV mode work with cruise control??? How do install it and what was the cost??? Can a normal person install it our do you have the dealer installit??/

Thanks for the help

 

Bill, you can read more about the EV mod here, http://coastaletech.com/electric_only_mode.htm

They sell a kit for $45 that you can install yourself. I installed it in less than 45min, but you do need the proper tools to do a nice installation. Search the forum for EV mod or something like that, there were couple of threads on this topic.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Lil Mo @ Jul 6 2006, 08:46 AM) [snapback]281916[/snapback]</div>

I second this, my 04 is still a Virgin It has not nor will it ever be moded..... Works just fine

 

Kwong (Toyota Spokesman) said Toyota doesn't offer the switch to electric mode because of U.S. laws mandating that it offer a minimum eight-year warranty for the car's power system. Thus, he said, by disabling the switch, the company is able to ensure a longer battery life.

Link is:

http://news.com.com/Hacking+your+Prius+-+p...html?tag=st.num

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(ScottY @ Jul 7 2006, 12:11 PM) [snapback]282549[/snapback]</div>

Thanks for the information.

Bill